Abstract

Background: Previous research has documented a negative association between maternal report
of child food neophobia and reported frequency of consumption of fruit, vegetables, and meat. This
study aimed to establish whether neophobia is associated with lower intake of these food types in
naturalistic mealtime situations.
Methods: One hundred and nine parents of 4–5 year olds completed questionnaires which
included a six-item version of the Child Food Neophobia Scale (CFNS). The children took part in
a series of 3 test lunch meals at weekly intervals at school at which they were presented with:
chicken, cheese, bread, cheese crackers, chocolate biscuits, grapes and tomatoes or carrot sticks.
Food items served to each child were weighed before and after the meal to assess total intake of
items in four categories: Fruit and vegetables, Protein foods, Starchy foods and Snack foods.
Pearson Product Moment Correlations and independent t tests were performed to examine
associations between scores on the CFNS and consumption during lunches.
Results: Neophobia was associated with lower consumption of fruit and vegetables, protein foods
and total calories, but there was no association with intake of starch or snack foods.
Conclusion: These results support previous research that has suggested that neophobia impacts
differentially on consumption of different food types. Specifically it appears that children who score
highly on the CFNS eat less fruit, vegetables and protein foods than their less neophobic peers.
Attempts to increase intake of fruit, vegetables and protein might usefully incorporate strategies
known to reduce the neophobic response.

Type:

Article

Title:

Food neophobia and mealtime food consumption in 4-5 year old children.